johnston



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1,.

.;,WQ A. JOHNSTON. Lomiu No. 558,649..4 Y Patented Apr. 21,

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' Llill (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. A. JOHNSTON.`

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lVILLIAM A. JOHNSTON, OF VYTIIEVILLE, VIRGTNIA.

LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,649, dated April21, 1896. Appiication ined Jun@ 8,1895. serai No. 552,139. (No man.)

`mutation-lock wherein the bolt has connected thereto a series ofswinging fingers, which move therewith and which are adapted to passinto openings of the lock-frame, so that their rearward movement may bepermitted and so that the bolt may move in the performance of itsfunction.

The invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with thedoors of dwellings and other houses, though it may be well `applied tosafes and storage-vaults, as other locks of its class.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a per1nutation-lockconstructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional View of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional `View on line 3 3 ofFig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional .view on line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5

is a detail View illustrating the construction for connecting the twobolts. Fig. G is a detail view oi' the key. Fig. 7 is a similar view ofthe cap of the key. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the plate or block whichreceives the piv oted fingers. Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of theremovable blocks or plugs. Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view of thekey. Fig. 1l is an enlarged detail View illustrating the construction ofthe links which connect the bolt with the movable plate for covering thekeyhole.

- The reference-numerall indicates the door, which is here shown to bethat usually employed iii-connection with dwellings, and 2 the frame ofthe door. The frame of the door is provided with a keeper 3, with whichthe bolt of my improved lock operates. The lock of my invent-ioncomprises a main plate 4, upon which the moving parts of the device aremounted and which comprises the bed or base thereof. This plate isadapted to be rigidly secured to the inner side of the door 1 by meansof screws 5, which pass tlirough it and into the door, as .may be seenby reference to the drawings.

6 indicates a spindle, which passes through the door 1 and which isrevolubly mounted in a box 7, secured to the outer side of the door 1.The spindle 6 is provided with knobs S, similar to those usuallyemployed, and is rocked or oscillated to operate the door, as will beexplained more fully hereinafter.

Fixed to the spindle 6 and lying directly against the inner side of themain plate 4 is the sector 9, which has its curved face provided withcogs, and these cogs mesh with corresponding cogs formed on the upperside of the section 10 of the bolt. The section 10 of the bolt isextended horizontally and seated in a recess 11 of the main part 12 ofthe bolt. This main part 12 of the bolt is of a thickness equal to thatof the section 10 and liessnugly against the same.

The shoulder at the rear or outer end of the recess 11 is provided witha longitudinally and horizontally proj ecting pin 13,which carries anexpansive spiral spring 14. The pin 13 is seated within alongitudinally-extending passage 15, formed in the rear end of thesection 1() of the bolt. This permitsthe section 10 to moveindependently of the part 12,while the spring 14 gives the section 10 atendency outward. This tendency when not restrained causes the section10 to project beyond the section 12, and in order to hold said sectionin vertical alinement the section 12 is `formed with a dovetaileddepression 16 in its inner side. In this depression a dovetailed plate17 is arranged and made capable of having movement therein. Thedepression opens at the upper edge ot the part 12 of the bolt, so thatthe plate 17 will be capable of passing into a correspondingly-shapeddepression 18 in the section 10. The depression 18 is practically acontinuation of the depression 16, and when the plate 17 is moved to liesnugly in each the two sections of the bolt will be connected to eachother, so as to render their independent movement an impossibility. Itwill be understood that the spring 14 will operate to press the section10 outwardly, causing it to bind against the plate 17 thereof, holdingsaid plate from useless play and from consequent displacement. 19indicates a button, which is fixed to the plate 17, and which isprovided to facilitate moving the same.

ln the lower edge of the plate 17 and pro- TOO ' block 3l.

j ecting downwardly therefrom is a spring-arm 20, which has its lowerend curved slightly outward and which has a normal tendency that willcause it to forcibly engage the lower portion of the part 12 of the boltwhen the plate 17 has been moved so as to permit this engagement. Fixedto said portion of the section 12 is the stud 21, which projectsoutwardly jtherefrom and which is adapt-ed to be received in a recess22, formed in the arm 20. Thus it will be seen that upon moving theplate 17 downwardly, so as to lie completely in the depression 16 and soas to be disengaged from the section 10, the stud 21 will operate toengage with the arm 20,and thereby hold the plate 17 from uselessmovement.

In order that the outward movement of the bolt may be properly limited,the section 10 thereof is provided with a stud 23, which projects outhorizontally from its inner side and which is adapted to engage with theguidebar 24 when the bolt moves outwardly beyond the predeterminedpoint. 25 indicates aseoond guide-bar, which is fixed to the main plate4 and which, like the bar 24, is formed with an opening 2G, throughwhich the bolt passes and in which said bolt may have that movementwhich is essential to its effective operation.

The section 12 of the bolt rearward of the shoulder which carries thepin 13 is enlarged, and this enlarged portion is passed through acorrespondingly enlarged opening in the guide-bar 27. Formed in theextremity of the section 12 are the short longitudinal slots 28, whichare preferably nine in number and which extend parallel with each otherand in close relation thereto, their outer ends being in communicationwith the rear end of the said section 12. 29 indicates the fingersheretofore referred to, and these are one for each slot 28 and havetheir front ends pivotally mounted in respective slots by means of thevertically-extending pin or spindle 30. The pin or spindle 30 passesthrough the rear end of the section 12 and through the finger 29 andpivotally mounts the same in place, all of which will be apparent.

The front extremities of the fingers 29 are slightly reduced in width,and just outward of the rear end of the section 12 this width isincreased to a thickness considerably greater than the thickness of thesection 12. Thus, as this section 12 is moved forwardly the widenedportions of the fingers 29 will engage with the guide-bar 27, whereuponsaid fingers will be forced to move inwardly and to lie snugly againstthe plate 4. From these enlarged portions and upward to the free andrear ends of the fingers 29 the salne decreases in width until theyassume a width equal to about one-half the width of the widenedportions.

Rigidly secured to the rear portion of the plate 4 by any suitable meansis the plate or This plate has formed therein forty-five square openings32.` These openings are arranged in five horizontal lines of nine eachand extend entirely through the block from the front to the rear sidethereof.

33 indicates thirty-six small blocks, which are capable of fitting'within the several openings 32, and which will completely fill thesame. Formed integral with the rear edges of the blocks 33 are theflanges 34, which project outwardly therefrom, and which are adaptedto'fit within corresponding rabbet grooves formed around the outer edgesof the openings 32. By these means the openings 32 may be filled, sothat the front face of the block 31 will be smooth and unbroken and sothat the rear face will be equally smooth.

Lying against the rear side of the block 31 is the plate 35, which is ofa size equal to that of the block 31, and which is arranged with itslower end within a groove 3G formed in the inner side of the plate 4. Bythese means the plate 35 may lie snugly against the rear side of theblock 31, and in order to hold the upper end of the said plate 35 securethe same is provided with screws 37 ,which pass through it and into theblock 31. By these means the small blocks 33 are prevented from beingremoved from their several openings 32.

The purpose of the block 31 and its subordinate blocks 33 is to formopenings in the block 3l in which the rear ends of the fingers 29 may bepassed, and to make it possible that these openings may be changed whenthe necessity of such an operation arises and whereby the combination ofthe lock will be changed. Thus by providing thirty-six of the blocks orplugs 33 all of the openings 32 may be filled with the exception ofnine, which leaves one unfilled opening for each finger 29. Theseunfilled openings will occur one in each vert-ical line of the openings32, so that the lingers may be moved to insure their entrance into thesame. 1f the fingers are so adjusted that they will pass into theseopenings, it will be possible for the bolt to move rearwardly, so as topermit its disengagement from the keeper 3; but, on the other hand, ifthe fingers or any one of them are not so adjusted the rearward movementof the bolt will be an impossibility and the lock cannot, therefore, bereleased.

Formed integral with or rigidly secured to the upper end of the block 3land projecting therefrom is the ledge 38, which is of a length equal tothe size of the block 31, and which has rigidly secured in grooves 39the guideplates 40. The grooves 39 are ten in number and are arrangedparallel with each other and on the under side of the ledge 38. Theguide-plates 40 proceed downwardly from the ledge 38 and parallel witheach other, and have their lower ends seated within slots 42, formed inthe plate 4. These plates are secured in position by screws or any otherfastening device, and must be lrigid in order to secure the properoperation of the device.

Each of the iingers 29 projects through the space inclosed by the plate40, and these IOO IOS

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plates permit the fingers to be moved up` wardly in order that theirrear ends may reach the unlled openings in the block 31.

Formed in the plate 4 and in the space be tween the slots 42 are theopenings 43, which are nine in number and which are arranged in atransverse line, so that one opening will be directly adjacent to eachfinger, so that an instrument passed through the said opening willengage with the respective iin-gers and move them outwardly to an extentlimited by the ledge 38. These openings are provided for the passage ofthe needles forming part of the key for use in my invention. This keywill now be described.

44 indicates a base-plate which has formed integral with or rigidlysecured to one side This flange extends thereof the flange 45.throughout the length of the base-plate. Lo-

cated at the rear end of the base-plate 44 is l a second liange 46,which is practically a con- `tinuation of the flange v45, and which isalso formed integral with or rigidly secured to the plate 44.

47 indicates a series of bars, which are nine in number, and which areof a thickness equal to the iianges 45 and 4G. These bars have a lengthcommensurate with that ofthe plate 44 and are arranged thereon, so as tobe caj pable of moving toward or from each other. j A plate or cover 48is arranged over the u pper sides of the bars 47 and rested upon theouter edges of the Iianges 45 and 46, whereby the bars are held inproper relative positions. Embracing the whole of this arrangement andextending across the same are the loops `49, which are two in number,and which lie snugly against the cover 48 and plate 44, and are providedwith set-screws 50. These setscrews 50 are so located that they will becapable of engaging the intermediate bar 47 at that side which isopposite the side bearing the flange 45. Thus by moving up the screws 50the several bars 47 may be caused to forcibly engage with each other.The actual engagement of the bars 47 is prevented, however, owing to thefact that the needles 51 are arranged within the space inclosed by saidbars 47. These needles are nine in number and are formed of rigid steelrods of the same length. The purpose of this construction just describedis to permit the adjustment of the needles or rods 5l, so that theirouter ends may be arranged in the desired transverse planes. Thus, byreference to the views of the drawings which illustrate this part of myinvention, it will be seen that the several needles are all arrangedwith their outer ends out of alinement with each other, and it may beexplained that this arrangement of the needles is subject to thelocation of the unfilled openings 32 in the block 3l.

The purpose of the key, or that device which has just been described, isto move the iingers 29 outwardly to the proper posi tion, which will bethat which permits said fingers to enter the unfilled openings, and todo this the 4 needles 5l are inserted into the respective openings 43,so that they will engage with the fingers and move them outwardly, andthis outward movement will be limited by the length of the needles, orrather the length which said needles can project into the space inwardofthe plate 4. All that is necessary, therefore, to the adjustment of thefingers is to insert the needles 5l into the openings 4-3 as far as theplate 44 will permit. It will be seen that the needles will be adjustedbyloosening the set-screw 50, and that they are secured upon tighteningthe same, all of which has been explained before.

The openings 43 are in communication with the outer side of the door bymeans of the block 52, which may be either rigidly secured to or formedintegral with the outer side of the plate 4, and which projects throughthe opening in the door. This block is perforated in conformity with theopening 43, so as to form a continuation thereof, and the upper end ofthe block projects to the outer side of the door l. The perforations orpassages in the block 52 are designated by the numeral 53, and the outerend of these passages are enlarged or flared to a slight degree in`order that the needles may be easily inserted.

I have provided means whereby the tampering with the lock is prevented,and whereby it is made an absolute impossibility to open the samewithout an accurate knowledge of the combination existing in relation tothe opening 32. These means consist of a plate 54, which is of a widthequal to a little less than that of the rear end of the plate 4, andwhich is arranged to slide in the slots 55 formed in the lower ends ofthe guide-plates 40. This plate is capable of, by reason of the locationof the slots 50, covering the openings 43, and it is for this purposethat the plate 44 is provided. Projecting out lateralljn from the rearcorners 55 are the studs 56, which are one in each corner, and whichhave pivotally connected thereto the links 57. These links are one foreach of the studs, and project forwardly and parallel with each other tothe rear end of the section'l2 of the bolt. The front ends of the links57 are formed with longitudinal elongated slots 58, and these slots areprovided to receive the studs 59 of the section 12, said studs being onefor each slot, and fitted within the same, so as to be capable ofstroking throughout their length, and of moving independent of the linkssubject tothc length of the slots.

In the operation of the lock it will be necessary to first move the boltrearwardly for a distance sufficientv to place thefront ends of thefingers 29 rearward of the guide-bar 27, else said fingers will bindagainst the guidebar in their outward movement. j supposing, therefore,that this rearward movement of the bolt has been effected, the plate 55will be moved to an opening just forward of the opening 43. It will beunderstood that upon the first movement of the bolt the studs 59 IOO IIO

' respective unfilled openings 32.

will move through the slots 5S and have no effect upon the links 57.When, however, the studs 59 engage with the rear extremities of theslots 58, the links 57 will be no longer inactive, but will moverearwardly, causing the plate 54 to take a similar movement and to liejust forward of the opening 43, as has been explained. The parts are nowin position to permit the insertion of the needle 51 of the key, andwhen this has been done the fingers 29 will be moved outwardly, so thatit will be possible for them to pass into their When this stage of theoperation has been reached, the key should be withdrawn, and theoperation of unlocking completed by moving the bolt rearwardly untildisengaged from the keeper 3, it being understood that the n gers 29move into the unfilled openings 32 to permit this rearward 'movement ofthe bolt.

Now the usefulness of the plate 54 and its attending parts may beexplained as follows: By carefully following the operation of the partsit willbe seen that the plate 54 is located directly forward of theopenings 43 when the ends of the fingers 29 are a short distance fromthe openings Now when the fingers begin their second movement and enterthe openings 32 the plate 54 will be moved to cover the openings 43,thus making it impossible for an instrument to be inserted in saidopenings, and the plate remains over the openings 43 so long as the endsof the fingers 29 are located within the openings 32 or a short distanceforward thereof. By this it is impossible for a person to test and toexperiment with the lock until the proper combination has been found,for no sooner will he have one finger adjusted at what he proposes totry, if it is the proper adjustment, than the plate 54 will cover theopenings 43 and renyder the adjustment of a second finger impossibleunt-il the plate has been removed, which removal will be attended by aforward movement of all of the fingers 29 and a consequent displacementof the principal finger referred to above. Thus it will be seen that theonly Way by which the lock may be surreptitiously opened is to adjustevery finger at the same instant and, of course, in the proper manner,and it is needless to say that this can only be done by a certainknowledge of the combination, for, while perhaps it is a possibility, itis most improbable that any person could guess the specific location ofeach unfilled opening at the same time and without any eX- perience inregard thereto.

In the use of my invention the plate 4 with its attachments is securedto the inner side of the door, so that the bolt may engage with thekeeper 3, all of which is well illustrated in the drawings, particularlyFig. 1. No further description of the lock will be necessary, and itwill be sufficient for me to say that the section 10 of the bolt is madeindependent from the main section 12 in order that it may be used as anordinary latch, and this use is effected by disengaging the plate 17from the section 10,which will canse the said section to move forwardlyunder the infiuence of the spring 14 and destroy all positive connectionwhich it had with the main part 12. It will now be possible toreciprocate the section 10 by a simple rock of the spindle 6. Thisadjustment will be resorted to when it is not desired to employ thelock-as, for eX- ample, during the day in a dwelling-house, or when forother reasons it is not desired to lock the door. It will also be usefulwhen a person has entered the apartment which the lock commands and ison the inner side of the door, for at such a condition of affairs itwill be quite impossible for him to properly adjust the fingers 29. Itwill be observed that a very simple movement is necessary to connect ordisconnect the bolt, which will make it easy to use and manipulate thelock. In practice it will be, perhaps, desirable to inclose the movingparts of the lock in a suitable cover or casing, all of which does notrequire any illustration, owing to the fact that it is well understood.

The key is provided with a cap 60, which is capable of embracing theouter ends of the needles 51 and of covering and protecting the same.This cap is held in place by means of suitable spring-catches 61,whichare arranged one on either side thereof, and which are adapted tocooperate with the studs 62, fixed to the cover 48 and the base-plate 44of the key. This device prevents the exposure of the needles 51 andmakes it impossible for them to pierce the clothing of the personcarrying the key. The size of the key will permit it to be readily andconveniently carried in ones pocket, and, if so desired, it may be madecollapsible, so that its bulk may be reduced. This is not regarded asnecessary, however.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention, such as varying thenumber of openings in the block and making the fingers and the keycorrespond with the same, providing any suitable casing to inclose alock mechanism, and employing a latch or catch for locking the bolt 10from the inside to prevent it from being operated from the outside, andsimilar changes to adapt the lock to the door on which it is to be used.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim is- 1. In a lock, thecombination of a reciprocating bolt, a block located at the inner end ofthe bolt and disposed at an angle to the same and provided with seriesof recesses arranged in parallel rows, a series of fingers pivotallyconnected to the inner end of the bolt and adapted to enter the saidrecesses, and a series of removable blocks or plugs fitted in therecesses, whereby the combination of the lock may be changed by changingIOO ICS

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the position of the removable blocks or plugs, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a lock, the combination of a casing provided with perforations oropenings 43 for .the reception of a key, a block located adjacent to theopenings 43 and provided with series of recesses arranged in parallelrows, removable and interchangeable plugs arranged in the recesses andadapted to vary the combination of the lock, a series of guideplateslocated in advance of the recesses and forming spaces registering withthe openings 43, a reciprocating bolt, and a series of iingers pivotallyconnected to the bolt, and having their free ends arranged in the spacesbetween the guide-plates, substantially as described.

3. In a lock, the combination of a casing provided with openings 43, areciprocating bolt, a block located adjacent to the openings 43 anddisposed at an angle to the bolt and provided with recesses arranged inparallel rows, removable and interchangeable plugs arranged in therecesses and adapted to vary the combination of the lock, a series ofiingers pivotally connected to the bolt, and a key comprising a body anda series of parallel longitudinally-adjustable rods adapted to iit inthe openings 43, substantially as described.

4. In a lock, the combination of a casing provided with openings 43 forthe reception of a key, a reciprocating bolt, a bl'ock located adjacentto the openings 43 and provided with recesses and having removable plugsarranged in some of the recesses, fingers pivotally connected to thebolt and adapted to enter recesses of the block, the plate 54 locatedadjacent to the openings 43, links 57 pivoted to the plate 54 andprovided with slots, and fastening devices arranged in the slots andmounted on the bolt, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a lock, a key comprising a base-plate provided with side flanges,a series of bars arranged parallel and loosely disposed on thebase-plate, rods 5l arranged between the said bars, a cover arranged onthe bars and the side flanges of the base-plate, loops receiving thebase-plate and the cover, and clampingscrews mounted on the loops andengaging the adjacent bar and securing the rods 51 at the desiredadjustment, substantially as described.

6. In a lock, the combination with a frame or casing provided with aseries of openings, a reciprocating bolt, a block located at the innerend of the bolt arranged substantially at right angles thereto andprovided with a series of recesses located at different distances fromthe said openings, and a series of tin gers pivotally connected to theinner end of the bolt disposed longitudinally thereof ad- -jacent to thesaid openings and adapted to enter the recesses of the block when alinedwith the same to permit the bolt to be rctracted, of a key comprising abody, and a series of longitudinal rods or needles projecting from thebody and adapted to engage the` pivoted fingers to cause the latter toaline with the said recesses and capable of adjustment to cause theiingers to aline properly with the recesses, substantially as and forthe purpose described.

7. In a lock, the combination of the bolts 10 and l2 arranged contiguousto each other, a spindle provided with means for actuating the bolt 10,and a catch mounted on one of the bolts and adapted to connect the twobolts,

whereby the spindle may be employed to re-` ciprocate both bolts or onlythe bolt 10, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in i the presence of two witnesses.

IVILLIAM A. JOHNSTON.

W'itnesses:

JAS. W. SHEFFEY, J. P. HILL.

